The Flower Podcast, hosted by Scott Shepherd is for the floral community to discuss flowers, trends, and business topics, including everything from flower farmer to all aspects of floristry. Each week a featured guest will share their knowledge, passion, and love of flowers. Join us for colorful chats with talented creatives, photographers, growers, entrepreneurs, authors, and so much more!! Be sure to subscribe on your listening platform of choice. Learn more at https://www.theflowerpodcast ...
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Dundee Butcher: Paving the Future with Phoam Labs
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My guest is Dundee Butcher, a florist, educator, artist, and advocate for sustainability. After training with the premier London florists of Jane Packer Flowers and McQueens, Dundee established the Russian River Flower School in California. Her journey didn't end with education; in 2016, she took a significant leap by co-founding what would become …
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The New Field Guide by Dr. Allan Armitage
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I'm thrilled to welcome my former professor, Dr. Allan Armitage, to this week's episode of the Flower Podcast. Dr. Armitage, a revered expert in cut flower production and a key figure in horticulture, has profoundly impacted the field worldwide We are discussing* his latest project, A Field Guide for Specialty Cut Flowers co-authored with Kelly Gar…
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The Future of Floristry: Rita Feldmann of The Sustainable Floristry Network
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Today we tackle an increasingly critical and sometimes controversial topic within the floral industry: sustainability. Amid growing concerns about environmental impacts, the conversation on how the floral industry can adapt and evolve is more relevant than ever. Leading the charge is Rita Feldmann, founder of The Sustainable Floristry Network. Rita…
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Hope, Healing, and Flowers: Brianne Womack with Fields of Grace Flower Farm
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Welcome everyone to a new episode of The Flower Podcast. I love uncovering personal stories from the heart of our industry and today, we're taking a slightly different route to shine light on a very special journey of flower farming and how this journey intertwines with nurturing the soul and creating a space for recovery and rejuvenation in the he…
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From Seed to Legacy: Hybridizing Dahlias with Steve and Sarah Pabody of Triple Wren Farms
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It’s all things dahlias this week with Steve and Sarah Pabody of Triple Wren Farms on The Flower Podcast! Steve and Sarah are here to share their journey, from choosing the perfect dahlia blooms to finding joy in the balance between passion and life. From understanding about dahlia seeds to their Dahlia Legacy Program and the Novice Hybridizer Prog…
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This week we’re replaying a favorite episode from 2019 in Season 2 with Françoise Weeks. Françoise Weeks, floral artisan and teacher, is this weeks guest on The Flower Podcast. Françoise is a master of the Woodland Design and Botanical Couture. Her passion for nature, materials, and mechanics will ignite your own curiosity to create with an inspire…
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Regenerative Flower Farming with Jennie Love of Love 'n Fresh Flowers
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I am pleased to welcome back Jennie Love of Love’n Fresh Flowers to The Flower Podcast. Jennie continues to inspire us with her commitment to flower farming and her obvious love of flowers. Her work is a testament to her dedication to no-till farming, supporting local growers, and her approach, not only nurtures the soil and local ecosystems with n…
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Sourcing Locally for Weddings with Kim Delgado of Mary Stuart Flowers
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My guest this week is Kim Delgado, the Owner and Creative Director behind Mary Stuart Flowers, a bridal floral design enterprise that prides itself on capturing the unique narrative with her couples through the charm of local, seasonal blooms. In this episode, we’re discussing a lot about sourcing local flowers and how she has this conversation esp…
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Sustainably Growing Sarracenia with Steve and Margo Galic of Fox Leaf Farm
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This week we’re exploring another specialty crop that has its unusual roots here in North America where it’s a botanical native. But first, our guests are Steve and Margo Galic from Stanwood, Washington. Their business is Fox Leaf Farm and they specialize in growing and breeding Sarracenia also known as pitcher plants. After seeing these cut stems …
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Personalizing Success in Retail Floristry with Abby Chick
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In this week’s episode we are diving into the world of retail floristry with Abby Chick. Although mainly speaking about the florists side of flowers, I encourage you to listen because so many of the points we cover apply to all businesses. Starting from her early days at a traditional flower shop to becoming the successful owner of Blakemore’s Flow…
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Exploring the World of Clematis with Alla Olkhovska of Linden Grove Gardens
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I am excited for this week's episode of The Flower Podcast, where I chat with the Alla Olkhovska of Linden Grove Gardens from Kharkiv, Ukraine. When Erin Benzakein of Floret shared Alla’s story with me, and I visited her website, I discovered Alla's incredible garden of flowers especially her amazing work with clematis. Alla’s not just a gardener; …
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Floret Originals: Farm-Bred Seeds with Erin Benzakein
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Get ready to immerse yourself in the world of Erin Benzakein of Floret, one of the country’s most influential farmer/florist and trailblazing a remarkable path to growing cut flowers. From prestigious awards, including the Martha Stewart American Made award, to her New York Time’s bestselling books and an Emmy-nominated documentary series called "G…
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Growing Peonies Starts with Great Roots: Walt Krukowski of Mountain Flower Farm
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1:16:49
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Mountain Flower Farm is synonymous with stunning blooming branches and beautiful peonies. Our guest this week is Walt Krukowski and his flower farm is located in Warren Vermont. Walt and his team grow more than flowers, he also grows roots for peonies which is where everything begins. Today we’re talking about what to look for when selecting peony …
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Be True to Yourself with Simon Lycett
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Today, we're starting the year off with a burst of color and creativity, as we're joined by none other than Simon Lycett. Simon's journey with flowers began in his youth which continues to bloom today with beautiful floral creations. A familiar face on TV and radio, Simon has graced the airwaves with his floral expertise and charming persona. He's …
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Hello everyone! This is a special episode of The Flower Podcast. Often during this time of year we replay past episodes of our podcast, but this year I would like to share something from our family’s archives. My Dad for many years has collected a wide range of old time radio shows. His collection is made up of over 30,000 different shows and of co…
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Evergreens and Foliages for the Holiday's: FJ Trzuskowski with Continental Floral Greens
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Today, I’m calling this a holiday edition as we talk about one of my favorites…. Foliage and this time of year I especially love Christmas greens. So I am excited to welcome an expert in the world of floral greenery, F.J. Trzuskowski, Vice President of Sales at Continental Floral Greens. F.J.'s journey in the floral industry, from his early days in…
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Flower Farming for Profit: Lennie Larkin with B-Side Farm
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Lennie Larkin, the founder of B-Side Farm, took her passion for flowers from a background in adult education to establishing an educational farm. Lennie's experience extends from managing educational farming programs to contributing as the West Coast Director for the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers and teaching at Santa Rosa Junior Coll…
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Connecting with Customers with Cathy Hillen-Rulloda
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Today, I'm particularly excited because we're joined by someone I've had the pleasure of spending some time with during a trip to California – the incredibly talented Cathy Hillen-Rulloda. A true legend in the floral industry, Cathy’s dazzling career spans over 40 years. Not only is she a phenomenal designer whose work captivated audiences at the 1…
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Update on the Van Gogh Fantasy Mix with Steve Kaufer of Sunflower Steve Flower Co.
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I am thrilled to have a familiar face rejoin us – Steve from Sunflower Steve Seed Co. Many of you might remember Steve's inspiring story from his previous visit on The Flower Podcast. It all began in 2007 with a rogue, multi-colored, double-flowering sunflower in his cut flower field. Since their early days in 2000, Steve is at the forefront of cre…
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Celebrating 35 Years of the ASCFG with Scott Shepherd
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After spending this week with the flower growing community of the Association of Specialty Cut Flower Growers, also know as ASCFG, I’ve come away more inspired and encouraged to see more growers and especially so many first time attendees to this very full conference. I’m Scott Shepherd and this is The Flower Podcast, where I love to chat with flor…
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Growing Ilex for Florists: Lane DeVries with Sun Valley Floral Farms
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Imagine growing up among tulips and lilies in the Netherlands, and then taking that green thumb all the way to building the first Dutch Glass greenhouse in California. From managing the growth of flowers to CEO and President of Sun Valley Floral Farms, Lane DeVries has forged a path as a grower and is a reflection of his devotion to his craft. Over…
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Growing Heirloom Mums with Steve and Mandy O'Shea of 3 Porch Farm
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1:13:56
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For those who might have missed their previous visit to our podcast, let me quickly reintroduce this great duo. They're not just flower farmers; they're visionaries in flower farming, dedicated to being the most sustainable flower shipping option in the U.S. Their mission of "Principles before Profit" has guided their journey from the beginning. St…
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A fourth-generation florist, J Schwanke is a flower expert, content producer, and professional speaker, and has not only made an mark within the flower community but has become a trusted voice and a source of inspiration for flower enthusiasts worldwide with a career that encompasses various facets of the floral industry. He is the host, creator, a…
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Learning All About Waxflower with Adrian Parsons of Helix Australia
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My guest this week is a Horticultural Sales & Marketing strategist with a remarkable 30-year career journey, he has navigated through the world of retail, wholesale, import, and export, licensing, sales, and marketing and more. He has established three horticultural businesses, oversees operations in Australia and California, serves 300+ clients gl…
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Creating Forever Floral Designs with Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales
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1:06:35
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I am excited to introduce Bex Partridge of Botanical Tales in the UK. Specializing in creating sustainable, everlasting designs with dried flowers, Bex skillfully takes them through their lifecycle, from seed to breath-taking displays. We’re diving deep into the mesmerizing world of dried flowers, exploring the magic and technique of designing with…
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Becoming a Floral Entrepreneur With John Mark Sharpe
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Today’s guest is John Mark Sharpe and his business John Mark Enterprises is located in Germantown, Tennessee outside of Memphis. In 2009, with Gran's encouragement, John Mark took the leap and started John Mark Enterprises. He began by selling mesh wreaths, reaching out to retail booths, holiday shows, and anyone in his family and friend circle. Jo…
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Creating a Special Place with Flowers: Nikki Bartley of Cross Street Flower Farm
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In this episode, we'll introduce you to a seasoned flower farmer who has not only cultivated breathtaking blooms but has also opened the gates to their "Pick Your Own Flower Farm.” My guest is Nikki Bartley of Cross Street Flower Farm and she shares her insights and experiences, offering a glimpse into the joy and challenges of her floral haven on …
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Flowers, Venues, and More with Dawn Clark and Mary Coombs of A Garden Party
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This week, step into the multifaceted world of the Colson sisters, Dawn Clark and Mary Coombs of A Garden Party and A Milkhouse Party. From growing & designing to managing their own venues and running a retail shop - these two women do it all! Our chat is bursting with floral business insights especially about starting your own venue for weddings &…
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2022 Charlotte Smith: Having a Profital Mindset
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1:00:03
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This week we're replaying one of our past episodes with our guest Charlotte Smith. She teaches farmers the skills they need to make money on their farms AND live calm, balanced lives through mindset coaching. Going against what most of us have been taught, Charlotte coaches in 13 countries to build successful profitable farms while also getting out…
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Growing Flowers in Arizona with Shanti Rade of Whipstone Farm
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This week, my guest’s story began with a high school internship that led her down a surprising path into farming vegetables and a personal interest in the beauty of flowers and the joy of sharing them with others. Somewhere along the way she became flower obsessed, growing well over one hundred different varieties. At Whipstone Farm, Shanti Rade an…
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Growing Roses for Your Local Florists: Lauren Uhlig of Florxeight
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Meet our guest of the week, Lauren Uhlig of FlorxEight! Join us as we dive into her incredible journey as a full-time architect turned passionate rose enthusiast. Since planting her first roses in 2017, her urban Maryland backyard is now blooming with nearly 200 rose plants. Sharing the love with local florists, Lauren is also fostering a sense of …
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Finding Your Ideal Wedding Client with Dawn Weisberg of Tularosa Flowers
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If you have a deep desire to craft vibrant weddings and intricate designs, then you're in for a captivating discussion with Dawn Weisberg. She's the visionary behind Tularosa Flowers, located in Southern California, where she curates opulent wedding experiences and designs. With a rich background in costume design for theater and film, Dawn seamles…
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Growing Pansies and more with Brenna Estrada of Three Brothers Blooms
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Home gardeners, flower farmers, and florists are always looking for flowers to help set them apart in their offerings and esthetics. My guest this week found her way to growing cut flowers eventually on Camano Island, Washington. Brenna Estrada and her business Three Brother Blooms takes pride in growing a wide variety of stunning, pollinator-frien…
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2021: Amy Marella of The Hidden Garden
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This week’s guest started her floral studio as a little flower shop with the sole inspiration to make people happy via beautiful flower arrangements. With minimal flower experience, a passion for flowers and determination, The Hidden Garden has become a phenomenal design studio with a strong presence in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills. How inspiring …
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Micro Flower Farming with Galena Berkompas
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This week’s episode is with Galena Berkompas and the name of her business says it all, Micro Flower Farm. Just a few years ago she began with the goal of trying to fill her property in Vancouver Washington, with all the flowers she could which then morphed into a business selling her flowers and helping others do the same and this week she’s sharin…
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Dahlia Growing in the South: Erica Penn Fleur Paws Flower Farm
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This week my guest is Erica Penn located in Portland TN. She’s been growing flowers for several years, but recently relocated from the Philadelphia area to my back yard and it’s been a pleasure to get to know her and her beautiful flowers, especially dahlias. Her business is called Fleur Paws Flower Farm where she cultivated flowers with the help o…
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Growing Australian Wildflowers with Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflowers
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Our guest this week is Craig Scott of East Coast Wildflower located in the NSW Central Coast of Australia. Craig began farming with his father in 1984 growing both cut flowers and foliages for florists. Their wholesale business distributes floral products through the Sydney Flower Market. East Coast Wildflowers is one of Australia’s leading wholesa…
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Reaching Your Flower's Potential with Dennis Wheeler of Chrysal
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In this episode, we dive into the world of flower care, exploring products to ensure the well-being of blooms before they reach our valued clients. My guest has an impressive career spanning nearly forty years in the horticultural industry. Dennis Wheeler currently serves as Sales Manager with Chrysal a global leader in post-harvest care for the pa…
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Growing Phalaenopsis: Toine Overgaag with Westerlay Orchids
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My guest this week is a 2nd generation grower carrying on the family tradition of embracing innovation and sustainable growing practices to ensure the highest quality Phalaenopsis orchids are produced. Now growing and selling over 4 million orchids a year, Toine Overgaag of Westerlay Orchids is sharing his family’s flower journey from roses to orch…
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What's Up and Coming with Cut Flowers: Dr. Alicain Carlson with Syngenta Flowers
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This week’s guest is Dr. Alicain Carlson she is the head to technical services for Syngenta Flowers. Her story begins with flower farmings and floral design work at Lynnvale Studios while in college. She received her masters and PHD at North Caroline State University in the cut flower research program with Dr John Dole where she also co wrote the b…
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Building Your Dynamic Floral Team with Mandy Benoit of Trillium Floral Design
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My guest is Mandy Benoit,owner of Trillium Floral Designs. A full service flower shop located in Ottawa, Canada, Mandy has over 20 years of experience and in 2020 took over the family business shortly after the pandemic started. Using her background in multimedia design and writing for a Canadian florist magazine, Mandy pulls from all of these and …
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Specializing in Branches with Karl Vahrmeyer Jr with Green Park Nurseries
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Karl Vahrmeyer Jr. is our guest this week. He is part of the second generation that’s continuing the family legecy at Green Park Nurseries on the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario, Canada where they grow and sell branches. Karl Sr. started the nursery in 1980 where he grew trees and plants for garden centers and nurseries. In the early 2000s, they start…
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Floral Decor and SNL with Kim Kachougian, owner of Mac and the Mushroom
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I'm always surprised by how flowers can find people and change their lives for good. This week, Kim Kachougian is my guest. She is the owner and lead creator of a flower design company in New York City called Mac and the Mushroom. Flowers found her through the set design on the one and only Saturday Night Live, where she has been for over 10 years.…
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2022 Felicia Alvarez: Growing Garden Roses
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This week we're replaying our episode with our guest Felicia Alvarez of Menagerie Farm and Flower. She shares her love of fragrant garden roses through her sustainable farming practices, her specialty farm nursery, and helping others through online learning and in person workshops through the Menagerie Academy. Today’s episode is packed full of gro…
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Get Back Up! with Sandra Sigman of Les Fleurs
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My guest is Sandra Sigman, award winning floral designer, owner of Les Fleurs, and author. She has recently launched her first book, French Blooms which is a beautiful book displaying the design principles she learned from her favorite Parisian florist. Get ready to be transported to a world of elegance and creativity as we dive into the story behi…
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Growing Dahlias with Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias
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Ready to talk Dahlias? This week my guest is Kristine Albrecht of Santa Cruz Dahlias. Known for her award winning dahlia hybrids and her book, Dahlia Breeding for the farmer florist and the home gardener, Kristine is sharing her flower journey along with numerous tips and insights on her hybridizing process, cover crops, soil testing and more. She …
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Pinterest Marketing with Jen Vazquez, Founder of Jen Vazquez Media
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My guest today is Jen Vazquez, Founder and CPO, Chief Pinterest Officer, of Jen Vazquez Media. Jen worked as a Division Director for a Fortune 500 company and continued on to create her wedding photography business and then, Pinterest arrived on the scene. Her world changed because of Pinterest and today, some refer to her as the Pinterest queen, s…
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Learning, Growing, and Connecting with Daniel Schavey of Petal Pickers Flower Co.
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This weeks guest is Daniel Schavey Co-Founder of Petal Pickers Flower Co., began in 2017, as a small farm operation specializing in growing fresh and fragrant, often heirloom, varieties of specialty cut flowers. They supply fresh seasonal cut flowers, distinctive bouquets, and botanicals to retail establishments and floral studios in the greater Gr…
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Perseverance in Business with Carly Cylinder @theflowerchef
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Our guest this week considers herself self-made and having bootstrapped her business with no funding from anyone, she got very creative. Well it was with that attitude, fortitude, and $200 that started out as a daily delivery service based out of her small apartment and grew into a bicoastal, floral studio. She hustled and eventually was doing even…
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The Evolution of Weddings and Events with the David Beahm Experience
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This week our guest is David Beahm and we’re talking all about the wow factor and making dreams into realities. David is an expert at transforming venues both in the United States and throughout the globe. His destinations collection features some of the most luxurious and exclusive properties in the world, setting the stage for any event a client …
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